Circular knitting machine



Patented Aug. 7, 1945 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Thomas Charles Bromleyand Arthur Shortland, Leicester, England, assignors to Mellor Bromley &Co. Limited, Leicester, England, a British company Application October1, 1942, Serial No. 460,430 In Great Britain October 27, 1941 6 Claims.

trolled, thus necessitating intermediate connections of a somewhatextensive character and in some instances comprising several links andlevers, especially in a machine of the characteristic type aforesaid,for cams or parts associated with the cylinder which is the further fromthe timing and controlling mechanism. These intermediate connectionsalso prevent ready access to the cam boxes and needle cylinders withoutdismantling at least some of them, and, moreover, the remoteness of thecontrolling means renders precise control of the aforesaid cams or partsdifiicult to obtain, especially in the event of wear in the saidconnections.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an improvedconstruction and arrangement of timing and controlling mechanism wherebyto enable various cams or parts to be actuated in a decidedly moredirect manner than heretofore, with a corresponding reduction ofintermediate connections and easier access to the needle cylinder orcylinders and associated parts.

According to the present invention there is provided, in combination,timing and controlling mechanism of generally conventional form andarrangement, and auxiliary controlling mechanism arranged about the axisof the needle cylinder. or cylinders as the case may be, of the machine,the said mechanisms being utilised jointly to control the operation ofthe machine.

Being situated co-axially with the needle cylinder or cylinders, theauxiliary mechanism conveniently serves to control movable cams in thecam system or systems, yarn changing means, picker mechanisms, or/andother parts or attachments usually assembled around the cylinder orcylinders, while the conventional mechanism is conveniently employed toinitiate or effect other changes, such as changes in the speed or motionof the machine and variations in the quality of the knitted fabric, thework of controlling the machine thus being shared between the twomechanisms.

For rendering the auxiliary mechanism effective upon the various cams,parts or/and attachments to be controlled there are providedintermediate connections which, in the main, may be constituted bysingle levers or/and rods, or other simple devices, according torequirements,

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the auxiliary mechanismcomprises a controlling member or members adjacent to and co-axial withthe needle cylinder or cylinders, and while the said member or eachmember may take any suitable or convenient form, it is preferably ofannular form and furnished with a concentric series of cams orequivalent elements for bringing about, through interposed levers or/androds or other simple devices, as aforesaid, the desired movement of thecorresponding parts or/and attachments which are required to function inthe production of the knitted fabric or articles. For example, in amachine of the superimposed needle cylinder type an annular member ismounted at the base of the bottom cam box. If desired, a, similar membermay be mounted at the upper end of the top cam box. The cams orequivalent elements may be applied to one face of the annular member oreach member or/and to the periphery thereof. Alternatively, the saidmember or members may be grooved concentrically or/and peripherally forthe reception of the cams or equivalent elements.

As an alternative, a drum or sleeve furnished with a circumferentialseries of cams or equivalent elements, or circumferentially grooved forthe reception of such cams or elements, may be provided instead of theannular member or each member.

When more than one such controlling member is provided each may beentirely independent of the other so far as its controlling function isconcerned. That is to say, each will control its own set of machinecams, parts or/and other attachments without the aid of the other.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readilycarried into practical effect, an illustrative example thereof appliedto a circular hosiery knitting machine of the superimposed end-to-endrotary needle cylinder type will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of so much only of the saidmachine as is necessary to illustrate, in more or less diagrammaticfashion, the association of the conventional timing and controllingmechanism with the auxiliary controlling mechanism aforesaid,

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view showing, more particularly, one ofthe levers acted upon by a cam on the controlling ring,

Figure 3 is another detail sectional view show,- ing intermediateconnections between the-said lever and the corresponding part to becontrolled, and

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view illustrating further parts ofthese connections as will be hereinafter described.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout thedrawing.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the machine is furnishedwith superimposed end-toend rotary needle cylinders I and 2. In thesecylinders are provided double-ended needles (not shown) which areoperated by sliders and are transferable from one cylinder to the otherfor the purpose of varying the character of the fabric produced, e. g.,changing from plain to rib or purl and vice versa. The auxiliarymechanism in this example comprisesa controlling ring 3 mountedconcentrically on the bottom or bed plate of the machine. For thispurpose the ring 3 is flanged at 3a suchwise as to enable it to befitted upon the bottom plate. On the inner face of the flange 3a-thecontrolling ring 3 is fitted with a gear ring 4 which is cut withinternal teeth. Both the controlling ring 3 and the gear ring 4 may bemade up of a plurality of segments to facilitate assemblage. On theupper face the controlling ring has applied thereto a series of camssuch as those indicated at 5. These cams correspond with the machineparts to be controlled and may be removably fixed so as to beinterchangeable with others, according to requirements. Any number ofcams may be provided on the controlling ring for controlling anyexisting parts which affect the function of the machine in some way orother well known in the art, such as parts commonly associated with theknitting head to affect the action of the needles or to vary thecharacter or appearance of the fabric produced. For example, thecontrolling ring 3 may have cams 5 thereon for controlling transfer camsand welt cams in the cam boxes 6 and I, and picker mechanisms and yarnchangin means assembled about the cylinders, it being understood thatthe particular embodiment described is by way of example only. In Figure1, three parts to be controlled from the ring 3 are represented at 8, 9and [0.

The controlling ring 3 is racked round intermittently, to render thecams 5 operative or inoperative upon the parts to be controlled, by spurand bevel gearing between the gear ring 4 and a gear ring II or teeth onthe controlling drum l2 which forms part of the conventional timing andcontrolling mechanism, the shaft I3 of which is racked round by pawl andratchet mechanism l4, l5 under the control of the timing chain as usual.Thus, a shaft lid is geared by a pinion l6 and a gear ring II with thedrum l2 and is geared through bevel gears I! and ID with another shaftl8a which is in turn geared through a pinion l9 and the gear ring I withthe controlling ring 3. The drum I2 is furnished with cams or equivalentelements such as those indicated at 20 for adjusting, throughappropriate intermediate connections (not shown), the machine cams forvarying the stitch length, i. e., the quality of the knitted fabric.Otherwise the timing and controlling mechanism is adapted to op-;-"ments of the controlling ring 3 and the drum I2 to operate thecorresponding parts to be controlled, simple levers or/and push rods areprovided between said parts and the said cams or equivalent elements.

The intermediate connections provided between the cams I applied to thecontrolling ring 3 and the relevant parts to be controlled therefromwill now be briefly described. For actuation directly by the cams ithere i a series of levers 2| which are pivotally mounted side by sidein a bracket 22 attached to the bottom plate at one side of the machine.The levers 2| are mounted upon a common pivot pin 23 fixed in thebracket 22 and, as shown in Figure 2, each or said levers is formed atits lower edge with a toe or foot 2Ia to oppose the relevant cam 5. Theupper edges of the levers 2| near the free ends thereof are disposedbeneath push rods 23 which are slidably mounted vertically in thebracket 22. The upper end of each push rod 24 is passed through the topplate 23 and arranged to contact one end of a lever 23 which latter isprovided with a fulcrum on one edge constituted by a rounded (or like)formation 26a (see'Figure 3). Each lever 23 is also mounted in a bearing2'! by means of a pin and slot connection so as to enable the fulcrum tothrust against a screw 23 in the bearing suchwise that the lever rockson the fulcrum in contradistinction to turning on a pin as in aconnection of conventional form. Conveniently the lever 26 i formed witha transverse slot 29 in the region of the fulcrum 28a and is retained inthe bearing 21 by means of a pin 33 passed through the slot. The screw28 serves for adjustment of the lever, both intially and when wear takesplace, and has a serrated head 23a for engagement by a looking spring 3|to hold the screw after adjustment. The fulcrum of each lever 26 thrustsagainst the corresponding screw 28 under the influence of a smallcompression spring 32 which is accommodated within a hole 33 formed inthe base 21a of the bearing 21 and arranged to impinge on the lower edgeof the lever in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. When, as shown, arod 34 is provided between a lever 23 and the part to be controlled, thesaid lever is bifurcated at the appropriate end, the rod is bent at oneend 34a for insertion into the bifurcation 35, as depicted more clearlyin Figure 4, and a pivoted catch 38 is provided on the lever forengagement with the bent end of the rod to retain it in the bifurcation.A similar construction may, if desired, also be adopted for connectingthe upper end of a push rod 24 to the adjacent end of the correspondinglever 26. Alternatively, the appropriate end of the lever 26 may becupped for reception of the upper end of the push rod 24. By theadoption of the described expedients, levers and rods can be readilyconnected and disconnected. In any event, the rods 34 extend downwardsthrough the top plate 25.

A part to be controlled by the auxiliary controlling mechanism may, iffound convenient, be actuated direct from the annular controllingmember. Thus, in Figure 1, the part I0 is shown as being operable in adirect manner from the ring 3.

If in a machine of the characteristic type before mentioned an annularcontrolling member is provided in association with the rib cylindercomponent as well as an annular member in association with the plaincylinder component, a shaft and appropriate gearing may be providedbetween the two members so that they are racked synchronously butotherwise each member may, if desired, function independently of theother to control cams or parts associated with its own component.

The invention is not to be regarded as restricted to any particularlever construction or arrangement as this may be varied as may be foundconvenient to effect the required control, such construction andarrangement being as simple as practicable so that the controllingmechanism can act substantially directly upon the parts to becontrolled, especially as regards cams or parts asso-v ciated with camboxes or cylinders.

By reason of the provision of controlling mechanism as aforesaid, themachine possesses important advantages, such for example as compactness,absence of extensive intermediate connections irregularly arranged, andsimplicity of construction and operation. Other advantages are that themachine is economical to produce and to maintain in running order owingto the reduction of the number of parts and corresponding elimination ofwear and tear. Moreover, the connections can be easily assembled anddisassembled and the cam boxes are readily accessible and consequentlyremovable wholly or in part for inspection and other desired purposeswithout necessitating extensive disconnection of mechanism adjacentthereto, so that the work of mechanics is simplified and much time andexpense is saved in this connection. Furthermore, by reason of thesubstantially direct action of the control, the functions of thecontrolled cams or parts can be more exactly regulated.

What we claim then is:

1. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a bottom needlecylinder, a top needle cylinder axially opposed with respect to saidbottom cylinder, a cam box associated with the bottom cylinder, anothercam box associated with the top cylinder, a bed plate by which saidbottom cam box is carried, controllable parts assembled about the needlecylinders, main timing and controlling mechanism including a rotatabledrum furnished with elements for effecting some of the desired changesin the operation of the machine, a gear ring on said drum, means forrotating the drum intermittently, an auxiliary controlling mechanismcomprising a controlling ring mounted concentrically on the bed plate, afurther gear ring secured on said controlling ring, intermediateconnections for rendering the said auxiliary controlling mechanismeflective upon the aforesaid parts to be controlled, and spur and bevelgearing arranged between the gear ring on the drum and the gear ring onthe controlling ring whereby the latter is racked round intermittently,the work of controlling the machine thus being shared between the saidtwo mechanisms, for the purpose herein specified.

2. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder,controllable parts associated with said cylinder, main timingand'controlling mechanism for effecting some of the desired changes inthe operation of the machine, an auxiliary controlling mechanismcomprising at least one annular controlling member adjacent to andco-axial with the needle cylinder, said member being furnished with aconcentric series of cams, intermediate connections arranged between thecams on the controlling member and the aforesaid parts to be controlled,said connections comprising levers each formed to be acted upon by arelevant cam, push rods for operation by said levers, other levers foractuation by said push rods, each of said second mentioned levers beingprovided with a fulcrum on one edge, a bearing in which the secondmentioned levers are mounted by pin and slot connections, and screws insaid bearings against which the fulcrums thrust, and means for operatingthe auxiliary controlling mechanism from the main timing and controllingmechanism, the work of controlling the machine thus being shared betweenthe said two mechanlsms, for the purpose herein specified.

3. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder,controllable parts associated with said cylinder, main timing andcontrolling mechanism for effecting some of the desired changes in theoperation of the machine, an auxiliary controlling mechanism comprisinat least one annular controlling member adjacent to and co-axial withthe needle cylinder, said member being furnished with a concentricseries of cams, intermediate connections arranged between the cams onthe controlling member and the aforesaid parts to be controlled, saidconnections comprising levers each formed to be acted upon by a relevantcam, push rods for operation by said levers, other levers for actuationby said push rods, a bearing in which said second mentioned levers aremounted, and further rods provided between the second mentioned leversand the corresponding parts to be controlled, and means for operatingthe auxiliary controlling mechanism from the main timing and controllingmechanism, the work of controlling the machine thus being shared betweenthe said two mechanisms, for the purpose herein specified.

4. A combination according to claim 2, wherein each second mentionedlever is bifurcated at one end, the rod between this lever and the partto be controlled is bent for insertion into the bifurcation, and apivoted catch is provided on the said lever for engagement with the bentportion of the rod, for the purpose herein specified.

5. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary bottomneedle cylinder, a rotary top needle cylinder axially opposed withrespect to said bottom cylinder, a cam box associated with the bottomcylinder, a bed plate by which the bottom cam box is carried, anothercam box associated with the top cylinder, a top plate serving to supportsaid last mentioned cam box, controllable parts assembled about theneedle cylinders, main timing and controlling mechanism including arotatable unit furnished with elements for effecting some of the desiredchanges in the operation of the machine, a gear ring on said unit, meansfor rotating said unit intermittently, an auxiliary controllingmechanism comprising a controlling ring which is mounted concentricallyon the bed plate and furnished with a concentric series of cams, afurther gear ring secured on said controlling ring, spur and bevelgearing arranged between the gear ring on the unit aforesaid and thegear ring on the controlling ring whereby the latter is racked roundintermittently, a plurality of levers each formed to be acted upon by arelevant cam on the controlling ring, push rods for operation by saidlevers, said rods extending up through the top plate, other levers foractuation by said push rods, each of said second mentioned levers beingprovided with a fulcrum on one edge, a bearing on the top plate in whichthe second mentioned levers are mounted bi f' pin and slot connections,screws in said bearings against which the fulcrums thrust, and furtherrods which are connected with said second mentioned levers and arrangedto extend downwardly through the top plate where they are in turnconnected with the parts to be controlled.

6. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder,controllable parts assembled about said cylinder, main timing andcontrolling mechanism including a rotatable drum furnished with aperipheral series of cams, means for racking around the said main drumintermittently, auxiliary controlling mechanism comprising a controllingmember 01 annular form arranged co-axially with respect to the saidneedle cylinder, and shafts geared with the respective mechanisms andwith each other whereby the auxiliary controlling member is driven fromthe main drum so as to'be racked round synchronously with the latter forcontrolling the aforesaid parts.

THOMAS CHARLES BROMLEY. ARTHUR SHORTLAND.

